I wake up in my cold, empty king-sized bed, dreading this day already.
I turn over, to see my wife once again. Just like every other morning.
Only for her to disappear into the air, just like every other morning.
I get up and rub the sleep away from my eyes, to start this atrocious day.
I slowly button up my black dress shirt, then my black sport coat.
I shuffle to my Yugo, start the engine and drive off to the funeral home.

I arrive at the funeral home, for my visitation hour, before the guests arrive.
But I am greeted by a surprise; a woman sitting contently beside my beloved’s casket.
The strong scent of her familiar perfume hits me, and I am taken back a few steps.
My suspicions are assured when she slowly turns around; a knowing smile upon her face.
She says to me, “I never told you enough, but I love you so much.”
I am yet again with my departed wife.

Her ghost makes her way over to me, and am millions of earthquakes, shaking and shaking.
“But you are dead, no longer living, right? Are you still alive?” So many questions fill my mind.
“I am indeed dead. I am with you, although, to cope with, since you have nobody left for this.
“After your family’s death in the house fire, and my death in the kitchen, you are alone.”
I nod, and she brushes away my tears that are falling from my eyes, gentle as she ever has been.
Filled with glee, we stroll to the best place we ever did see together.

The wondrous waves invite us to the refuge from life’s worries.
Children laugh, parents doze off in ratty beach chairs; all so welcoming.
We laugh as we jog across the stretch of damp sand to the waves.
Glances of confusion are thrown at us because of the second pair of footsteps beside mine.
Plopped down on the silky sand, we relax and fall asleep to the crashing waves.
I dream of our future.

Us hiding from everyone in our house.
A ghost as a companion.
50 years homebound.
Disconnected from the world.
I wake up, and say what needs to be said to prevent that nightmare from becoming my life.

So together, hand in hand, we discharge into the water, clear as day.
And, I swear, the water never glistened so bright as it did today.
We give each other one last glance to reassure our big plan.
I nod at her, giving her my ready signal. “Let’s do it. I think we are ready.”
She nods back at me, giving me her ready signal. We are ready.
We then fall into the waves together.

Just moments later, I join my wife in eternity.